The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-06

husbands sudden reference 20 the loss
of the cloak caused new idea to occur
to him, which brought the incident just
narrated freshly to mind, and sent him
rushing from the room. Not only this,
but, growing into an almost certainty
as he hurried along. it added such
speed TO his flying feet that, on his ar
rival at Potter's, in a flushed and
heated condition, Tad stumbled almost
head-frst against the small, silent man
who had been Dir. Atherton's fellow
passenger, rs he was walking the piazza
with 4 cigar in his mouth. Hastily ex-
cusing himself, Tad burst into the Of
fee, where Mr. Potter, who weighed
nearly three hundred pounds, was sit
ting in his shirt-sleeves, reading the
Near England Farmer.
Say, Mr.. Potter" gasped Tad,
breathlessly, chow long has Joe been
gone with that person-passenger-in
the long black cloak?"
'Eh?" responded Mr.. Potter, look
ing up from his paper and speaking
with aggravating deiiberatiOn, chow
long? Lemme see. Mira" raising
his voice for the benefit Of his wife, in
the other ROOM -how longs that young
Whitney BEN away with that air lady
passenger-the one in such 4 tremen-
dous hurry to Git to lEddieborer?"
Tad, with feverish impotence.
awaited the answer. The small man
on the piazza. near the open door, must
have been of rather inquisitive nat
ure: for, holding his cigar between his
fingers, and his head a little to one
side, he, too, seemed to listen for Mrs.
Potter's response.
Pretty nigh half n hour" called
Mrs. Potter, through the half-open
door. why, who wants to know?"
"Me-Tad Thornc, Mrs. Potter" eX-
claimed Tad, in an a@itated voice, and
OH. Mr.. Potter: 'front.' YOU have the sor-
rel mare put right in quick, so l can
drive off after hcr-I mean him
dressed up in Mrs. Mason's cloak, and
catch EN- before he-she-gets to MIDI
dleboror'
why, what on earth is the matter
with you?" demanded Mrs. Potter, with
some asperity, as she bounced into the
office.
Its that Forrest his name is
Jones-I mean Edwards" poor Tad
exclaimed, incoherentlv, "he's stole
Mr. Atherton's handbag. full Of
dfmuns ard papers, and dressed up in
Mrs. Mason's clothes and cloak -
"Mr Potter interrupted a quick
and somewhat imperious voice, pro-
ceeding from the smoker of the piazza,
who, flinging his cigar aside, suddenly
appeared inside the door, "have your
fastest horse put into light buggy,
and be quick about itr' And in the
voice, as well as its owner, Tad, with 4
great thrill Of JOY, recognized City De-
tcctive Blossom, who, it will be re-
membered, had caused Mr.. Jones to
restore the little alligator-slin sachel
to Tad, in the streets Of Boston, long
time before.
Tell him the sorrel mare, Mr..
Blossom" cried Tad, who was wildly
excited; "she can trot eTsr so much
faster than Brown Petc-and oh!
please let me go, tool"
The detective glanced sharply at
Tad, and nodded. You can CO." he
said, briefly. THE sorrel mare, MI.
Potter, and be quick about it," he
added; and, greatly bewildered, Mr..
Potter bawled his directions to his
wife, who repeated them from the back
window to the hostler, in the stable
yard.
How was it?" asked Mr.. Blossom.
in his curt way, as Tad followed him
out on the piazza. And Tad succeeded
in giving tolerabiy succinct account
of the robbery and leading circnn-
stances which had made him almost
positive as to the guilty person.
Smart boy" the detective re-
marked, approvingly, as the buggy
ratified round to the door; Jump in"
And, springing after Tad, Mr.. Blossom
snatched the reins from the hostler's
hands, chirruped to the sorrel mare,
and they We're off.
''It's straight road to Middleboro-
only one HILL" gasped Tad, whose
breath was almost taken away by the
rapidity with which the light buggy
was being whirled along behind the
nimble heels of the sOrrel mare. As
long as he lives he will never forget
that night drive over the level, dusty
highway, lined on either side by the
dense piny growth peculiar to the New
England States. The moon was
nearly full, and as it gradually rose
above the tree-tops great patches
of alternate light and shadows were
thrown across the road. Mr.. Bios
som, whose thin, keen face did not
show the slightest trace of emotion, sat
bolt-UpriSht on the bu%gy-seat, With
feet firmly braced, his short muscular
arms extended straight out before
him, as rigid as bars Of steel from the
tautened reins, which were wound in
one turn about each of his small, ncr-
vous hands.
Evidently Mr. Blossom not only
knew how to drive but how to get all
possible speed out of the sorrel mare.
With her small ears laid back aad her
80! ,Cz.g y